State representatives urge governor to seek resignation of DCF commissioner

A group of state representatives is calling on Governor Deval Patrick to ask for the immediate resignation of the commissioner of the embattled state Department of Children and Families.

In an open letter released Thursday night, the 16 Republican and eight Democratic lawmakers said Patrick should ask for Olga I. Roche’s resignation because her agency has not worked to fix problems.

“The Department has repeatedly failed to protect children under their custody,” the letter read in part. “The welfare of children under DCF guardianship is seriously at risk with the aforementioned shortcomings of the Department’s leadership.”